¤*~*¤May/June 2013 ¤*~*¤Trip Planning Thread

[acpalmer]

I'm not too far from Park Meadows either, so hi neighbor

Hi neighbor! (We're in Highlands Ranch.)

 

[acpalmer]

Okay, now I have a silly question. So you buy the gift cards and then do you have to trade them at the gate or how does that work? If so can I take them on monday night and do that so we don't have to wait in line on tuesday before our magic morning?

You can buy gift cards and then trade them in for tickets at the ticket booths, but you can also buy the actual park tickets at the Disney Store or some grocery stores (I know King Soopers has them, so I assume City Market does, as well, not sure about Safeway because we just don't often go there.) You don't have to do any trading with the park tickets as far as I know (at least it was that way the last time we went and I had purchased tickets at the Disney Store). The actual park tickets that you buy look like gift/credit cards--plastic, not paper like you get at the ticket windows at the park.

 

[TheChapman6]

You can buy gift cards and then trade them in for tickets at the ticket booths, but you can also buy the actual park tickets at the Disney Store or some grocery stores (I know King Soopers has them, so I assume City Market does, as well, not sure about Safeway because we just don't often go there.) You don't have to do any trading with the park tickets as far as I know (at least it was that way the last time we went and I had purchased tickets at the Disney Store). The actual park tickets that you buy look like gift/credit cards--plastic, not paper like you get at the ticket windows at the park.

Oh so the gift card that you buy becomes your ticket then? They have mater and lightning McQueen on them at king soopers I'm sure my kids will be excited to use them!

 

[BlueFairy]

DH switched our departures from SNA to LAX last night. Saved us 24,000 points with Southwest AND we get to leave 3 hours later so we won't be checking out at an unholy hour. Woohoo!

Anyone have a favorite shuttle from a good-neighbor hotel to LAX?

Also, I did our taxes and that was a relief. It feels like we're getting closer.

Now I want to find a packing list for young kids for the airplane. I really want to economize our packing since we'll be gone for 11 days and have laundry, but I'm dying to be sure we have the kids entertained on the long flights.

 

[PoohsFan1]

Now I want to find a packing list for young kids for the airplane. I really want to economize our packing since we'll be gone for 11 days and have laundry, but I'm dying to be sure we have the kids entertained on the long flights.

I hear ya about keeping the kids entertained. We are used to a 2 and half hour flight to WDW, this trip it will be doubled the time on the plane. My kids are used to long car rides so I am not that worried, but they do have their moments (especially the 9 year old). Luckily we booked through United and they have TVs that pop down every couple of rows of seats so we will be watching a movie or 2. Hopefully they will play something good that will make the time go by fast . Congrats on changing out your flight and leaving later .

I got another part of our planning done this morning....I finally booked our 1 night stay at the DLH . I was going to wait for my points from my Disney Rewards Visa card, but DH said to just book it and use those points for something else (he offered to pay for the room ). Since this is our first time at DLR, I really want to get something DLR specific. I am a huge Dooney and Burke fan and would love to get a wristlet that is specific to DLR, but not sure if they still make those anymore. I'll have to keep my eye out for one .

 

[acpalmer]

Oh so the gift card that you buy becomes your ticket then? They have mater and lightning McQueen on them at king soopers I'm sure my kids will be excited to use them!

No--gift cards and tickets are two separate things. Gift cards will be in specific dollar amounts. Tickets will be by number of days and if they are hopper or not. You will need to decide if you want to buy a gift card that you will then use to purchase your tickets at the ticket booth OR if you want to just buy the tickets.

 

[ColoradoLime]

Hello everyone! Sorry I've been absent for a LONG time...we've had lots of sicknesses in our household lately and some business travel mixed in there so the last few months have just exhausted me!!

Looks like I have some catching up to do on all these posts and new people that joined our group.

But real quick, this one caught my eye...

I was thinking about buying at Kings too. Since there are no great discounts out there, might as well get some fuel points!

I am so glad you mentioned this. I was planning on buying a gift card to use in the parks for our meals and totally forgot you can get fuel points for it! This will definitely come in handy now that gas prices have skyrocketed all of a sudden!!

 

[ColoradoLime]

Welcome to all the new members - I'll get you added to the list shortly!!

Hi Everybody!! We are taking our first trip to DL this June.

We will be there 6/15-6/22. Staying at the Dolphins Cove... big two family trip!!

kiddos include: 4 boys, 1,1,5,8 and 2 girls 2,8.


Very excited to learn everything i can about DL. We have been to WDW several times and are very eager to see what DLR has in store!!

I'm staying at the Carousel Inn May 3 through 7 then GCH May 7 through 12th. Should be in or near the parks every day (except hopefully the 4th)

GREAT! So glad I found this, we are planning our (FIRST) trip May 21-26! Our DD is truning 3, so we are going for her Birthday! I can't wait! She loves Disney, has almost every Princess movie memorized, and talks NON STOP about anything Disney. I want to plan the perfect trip to maximize our stay! I already reserved a room at the Desert inn and suites. I have some reservations on this, because I've read some mixed reviews on the cleanliness of the place I really hope it's up to standards, because it will save us over a $1,000. by staying there, as apposed to PPH and even more so if we picked DLH. Now to go back through this thread to see what I've missed!

We will be visiting DLR on June14-19, after a week at Aulani, and will be staying at the Grand Californian. This will essentially be our first trip there. We are WDW pros, but have only been to DLR once on a 2 day quicky side trip from Vegas. I'm searching the boards for tips and tricks so we can be better prepared. Right now the only place we know we want to eat is Cathay Circle in DCA for dinner Sunday (Father's Day). We are planning on purchasing 5 day park hoppers when we get there. Besides dining decisions, we are still trying to decide how to get back and forth to LAX. We arrive at 3pm Friday, but leave at 7:30a on Wed, so it looks like the Magical Express is out of the question, at least as a round trip option. We are so looking forward to getting to know the parks on that side of the country!

 

[ColoradoGirl85]

Now I want to find a packing list for young kids for the airplane. I really want to economize our packing since we'll be gone for 11 days and have laundry, but I'm dying to be sure we have the kids entertained on the long flights.

My son is only 3, but a seasoned traveler! I always head to the Dollar Tree before a flight and buy some cheap new toys for him. As he gets antsy on the plane I pull them out, and if they never make it off the plane....no biggie they were a dollar! We always bring the portable DVD player and Color wonder markers/coloring book for him and stickers. The DVD player seems to keep him busy for the bulk of the flight, and the other items are good for take off and landing when the electronics need to be turned off. We also bring a lot of snacks to keep him occupied!

I have a huge packing spreadsheet for Disney, it's kind of crazy haha. I bring an entire suitcase full of food too LOL!

 

[PigletGurl]

Sign me up!

we will be at the HoJo 5/22-5/26

and then were gonna hop over to the Fairfield Inn 5/26-6/3

getting 5-day hoppers, annual pass for Knott's and a 2-day ticket for universal studios

 

[Scribble Kitty]

I'll be down in June and staying at the Disneyland Hotel! 6/6-6/11.

This is my first June trip and am super excited about the weather. I usually go during winter so it will be wonderful to see the park NOT dressed up for Christmas.

 

[traceee]

Hello,

We'll be staying at Hojo April 30- May 4.
It's our first trip (I've been to WDW) but DH and DS 3,5 haven't been anywhere Disney ever, so we're pretty excited. Our biggest concern is whether to go back to the hotel for a break/nap/lunch mid-day and for how
long. We want to see everything but not have any meltdowns!

 

[TheChapman6]

I'll be down in June and staying at the Disneyland Hotel! 6/6-6/11.

This is my first June trip and am super excited about the weather. I usually go during winter so it will be wonderful to see the park NOT dressed up for Christmas.

Yay!! I'm hoping for super nice weather too! yesterday it was in the 40's so we all wore sweatshirts instead of coats. I think any California weather will be warm to us.

 

[ColoradoGirl85]

Hello,

We'll be staying at Hojo April 30- May 4.
It's our first trip (I've been to WDW) but DH and DS 3,5 haven't been anywhere Disney ever, so we're pretty excited. Our biggest concern is whether to go back to the hotel for a break/nap/lunch mid-day and for how
long. We want to see everything but not have any meltdowns!

Our first trip was Oct 2011 with a 2 year old. We went back to the hotel for lunch and a nap everyday. We had 5 days in the park, but we had done everything in 4 days even with our break, and not staying until closing. Day 5 was just repeating a few favorites and taking everything in. Our son will be 4 for this trip, and we are still planning on the mid day break. I think we all need it, and it prevented any breakdowns.

 

[acpalmer]

Hello,

We'll be staying at Hojo April 30- May 4.
It's our first trip (I've been to WDW) but DH and DS 3,5 haven't been anywhere Disney ever, so we're pretty excited. Our biggest concern is whether to go back to the hotel for a break/nap/lunch mid-day and for how
long. We want to see everything but not have any meltdowns!

The first time we went to DL, our boys were 3 and 5 and both of them had stopped napping before they turned 2. I wasn't sure about the midday break for this reason, but had read soooooooo much advice about being sure to take the midday break and how everyone will need it and so on, so we planned to do it in spite of what we knew about our kids. Major mistake. The kids didn't nap (of course--they hadn't napped in years) and it was horrible trying to keep them quiet at the hotel when all they wanted to do was be in DL. So after the first day, we didn't do a midday break (they didn't have any interest in swimming, either, even though it was June and they were both good swimmers for their age) and it was so much nicer/better that way.

So the moral of my story is--you know your kids. If you think they will need and take advantage of a break time, then totally do it. If they won't, then don't feel that you have to.

To this day I have no idea why I thought people writing books and on bulletin boards would know what my kids needed more than I did.

 

[Misskitty3]

The first time we went to DL, our boys were 3 and 5 and both of them had stopped napping before they turned 2. I wasn't sure about the midday break for this reason, but had read soooooooo much advice about being sure to take the midday break and how everyone will need it and so on, so we planned to do it in spite of what we knew about our kids. Major mistake. The kids didn't nap (of course--they hadn't napped in years) and it was horrible trying to keep them quiet at the hotel when all they wanted to do was be in DL. So after the first day, we didn't do a midday break (they didn't have any interest in swimming, either, even though it was June and they were both good swimmers for their age) and it was so much nicer/better that way.

So the moral of my story is--you know your kids. If you think they will need and take advantage of a break time, then totally do it. If they won't, then don't feel that you have to.

To this day I have no idea why I thought people writing books and on bulletin boards would know what my kids needed more than I did.

This was exactly my experience with both of my kids. We would head back to the hotel mid-day only to find out their was no way anybody was going to be taking a nap. Not sure if they were just too keyed up or what? We gave up and just enjoyed ALL day in the parks after that! Plenty of time after the vacation is over for kids to catch up on their sleep!

 

[TheChapman6]

So I'm maping out our stay and checking my plans twice. I'm thinking this for the Magic Mornings since we are stay at DLH

Day 1
Peter pan
Dumbo
Alice
Matterhorn
Mr Toad
Snow White
Pinocchio
Mad tea party
King Aurthur's Carousel

When MM is over
Indiana jones
Tarzan's Tree house
Jungle Cruise
Splash for FP
Haunted mansion
Pirates

Then either ride splash or lunch then the other

Canoes
Saliling ship/river boat
Pirates Lair
Winnie the Pooh
SBLCB
Enchanted tiki room
Autopia
Casey JR
Main street cinema
Shopping
Ride whatever else


Second MM at DL

Astro blasters
Star Tours
space mountain
buzz
nemo subs
autopia (again)
MM over
Disney RR
mainstreet vehicles
RRCS
Gadgets go coaster
The rest of toon town
This will be our third day so we will have gone on all the rides so then we will park hop and do anything else again

 

[KristinRiess]

Seems like I'm jumping over to may from April! We have a wedding in San Diego the first weekend in May. We were originally planning on going to Disney the week before the wedding but we got my husbands work schedule mixed up and he won't be off that week. Instead we're going to do Disney May 5-11, HOJO. This will be our first trip to DL, dh, ds, dd and our babysitter's first trip to anything Disney (I went to WDW as a kid) I'm so excited!

 

[traceee]

The first time we went to DL, our boys were 3 and 5 and both of them had stopped napping before they turned 2. I wasn't sure about the midday break for this reason, but had read soooooooo much advice about being sure to take the midday break and how everyone will need it and so on, so we planned to do it in spite of what we knew about our kids. Major mistake. The kids didn't nap (of course--they hadn't napped in years) and it was horrible trying to keep them quiet at the hotel when all they wanted to do was be in DL. So after the first day, we didn't do a midday break (they didn't have any interest in swimming, either, even though it was June and they were both good swimmers for their age) and it was so much nicer/better that way.

So the moral of my story is--you know your kids. If you think they will need and take advantage of a break time, then totally do it. If they won't, then don't feel that you have to.

To this day I have no idea why I thought people writing books and on bulletin boards would know what my kids needed more than I did.

I totally get what you're saying. Books and advice about kids can be so frustrating. Thanks for the input.

My kids still nap. DS (5) sometimes skips it but can get really whiny and DS (3) naps every day. I think we'll go back for the first and last day and try to make it through the 2nd day without. We want to see some of the shows in the evening so I don't want them to burn out too early. The problem is whether they will nap if they're in the same room!
We're bringing a stroller so the little guy can nap if he needs to on the 2nd day.
I think that we'll just have to see how things go on the first day and adjust where we need to.

 

[Markie Mouse]

Just got my tax return done, got my time off approved, and I'm officially going June 21-29! Staying at The Tropicanna from 6/21-6/26 and at DPPH from the 6/26-6/29.